At the exit of a hypermarket in the Tours area, Ghislaine loads her shopping into the trunk of her car. Three bags in all. The retiree has got into the habit of preparing her meals herself “and take less take-out, ready-to-eat meals.“A way to save money when certain products that she appreciates have increased. She also avoids buying them, except in the event of a reduction. “Salmon, prawns, all that stuff (…) now I try to see the promotions.”
I have to be careful, I have a small retirement!
After reaching 3.6% in February and 4.5% in March on an annual basis, inflation increased in April in France and reached 4.8% over one year, according to INSEE. Figures that may seem obscure but the consequences on a daily basis, Anne sees them on the shelves. “Dincreases in vegetables, pasta, and especially oil, it breaks all records” says the retiree. “I only go shopping once a week, I manage to get by. But I have to count, I have to be careful, I have a small pension!“
The salary does not increase, it will end up blocking somewhere
For Adrien, there is no question of depriving himself of small food pleasures. On the contrary. “We are five at home, with three children” says the father of the family. “We don’t have a lot of free time because it comes at a cost, we don’t have the means to make the children enjoy it. We fall back on food and small pleasures.“The young dad sees the price of gas, food, but”the salary does not increase, it will end up blocking somewhere.“
Other hypermarket customers tell us that they are not yet feeling the effects of inflation on the products they buy. But that doesn’t stop them from worrying about the future. Several of them come out of the mall with plants for the vegetable garden in their cart. Cultivate rather than buy, a way, also, to make some savings.